Cannabis does undoubtedly have an effect on sex; both positive and negative

BY SEAN SEURATTAN

The season of love approaches and the city’s winter slumber is awakened by the hum of the birds and the bees. For some, perhaps this season could even be enhanced with the help of cannabis. Prior to legalization, scientific research on cannabis was notoriously hard to get approved so imperial data is scarce. However, anecdotal evidence and recent studies have proven that cannabis does undoubtedly have an effect on sex; both positive and negative.

A recent study from 2019 reported that among all of its participants more than half had used cannabis prior to sex. The focus was on how the endocannabinoid system, which actually functions in both cannabis consumption and sex is affected when doing both together. The same system that allows us to feel high is the same one that regulates our body’s pre and post sex. High concentrations of cannabinoid receptors are found in the areas of the brain that control sexual function including the hypothalamus, the prefrontal cortex, the amygdala and hippocampus.

While only less than 5% of those studied found the sexual experience to be worse after cannabis consumption, it is still important to identify what could be possible causes for this. Basically, cannabis is affecting each person on two levels: mentally and physically. Of course it’s important to note that cannabis affects each person slightly differently in general. The most obvious reason for a negative experience would be over usage. Too great an impairment could easily ruin such an objectively delicate process. Also, depending on a person’s method of consumption, it could further complicate a sexual encounter.

The three main options of consumption are: inhalation, ingestion and topical application. If choosing inhalation, there is no way around the fact that it negatively affects your lungs and ultimately how much oxygen your body can receive. In turn, this then affects your: strength, stamina and endurance. Ingestion avoids these issues but may also interfere through improper usage. It’s easy to use too much or underestimate how long the onset of effects may take without careful planning. Neither method can avoid some common side effects of cannabis like the drying of mucous membranes. Females that experience extremely dry eyes after consumption may also notice dryness elsewhere. Topical use avoids all the above issues but effectiveness is questionable from person to person.

Now with those out of the way, how can cannabis help during sex? By affecting you both mentally and physically, it can help in a multitude of ways. Physically, cannabis commonly assists with pain, which during sex is a game ender for most. For some, providing relief from this can open doors long thought closed by pain. A more natural and regular sex life improves a person’s overall quality of life. For those lucky enough, cannabis has also been reported to provide an enhanced sense of touch, most likely because of the abundance of cannabinoid receptors in the skin. This leads to increased sensitivity and arousal, which can even improve orgasm occurrence and duration!

Mentally, cannabis helps in several ways important to sex. First and foremost, it affects your perceptions. For example, your perception of time is delayed, which means pleasurable experiences seem longer. It can affect your perception of your partner creating more intense bonding during sex. Emotions can be heightened simply because you now feel more comfortable with yourself and the other person. With less inhibition, a person may be inclined to take risks by going outside of their comfort zone leading to a better, more fulfilling sex life. These factors can then be attributed to increased libido when using cannabis because a consumer knows that these effects will take place, which makes them want to have sex more. Most importantly, cannabis relieves anxiety and there is barely anything more detrimental to sex than anxiety. Being vulnerable and open is much easier in a fear free environment and critical to achieve orgasm.

Once again, cannabis and sex may not be for everyone, but it’s definitely worth trying! Just remember to start low and slow with dosage, maintain constant communication with your partner and have fun finding out which strains (and positions) work best for you!